The New DVD and Blu Thread
- AV Team
- Posts: 3197
- Joined: October 22nd, 2004
Just wanted to give you guys a heads up that Amazon.com is having a 'Buy one TV DVD, Get One Free' sale. The animation-related titles in the sale include: The Boondocks: The Complete First Season, Creature Comforts America - The Complete Season One, The Critic - The Complete Series, Dilbert - The Complete Series, Spider-Man - The New Animated Series (all volumes) and The Tick - The Entire Series.
- AV Forum Member
- Posts: 1347
- Joined: January 23rd, 2006
- Location: The Middle of Nowhere
I've been itching to go HD and it looks like prices are coming down to a reasonable level. The other day at walmart I saw an HD-DVD player (I think it was Toshiba) for $200. The joke's on me though cause even if I can afford the player, I can't afford the hdtv to go with it. Prices on those are still kind of rediculous (I won't pay $300 for a screen no bigger than the one I've got now). What's a budget-conscious cinephile to do?
The Official Lugofilm Ltd Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/bartsimpson83
- AV Founder
- Posts: 8279
- Joined: October 16th, 2004
- Location: Orlando
- Contact:
Prices are coming way down on those HDTV's now. You can get a 32-42 inch TV for less than $1000 - sometimes well less. And even if it is the same size as what you have now, the resolution is definitely not as good on an older analog TV.
Something you don't hear much about is that even if you just get the HDTV and no HD source like HD cable or HD video disc, you can still get HD for free over the air with an old pair of rabbit ears! Almost all the network prime-time programming (minus most reality shows) in now in HD and available at no cost if you can pick up your local signal with an antenna.
If you do opt for an HD video format be sure to do a little research. I'm not going to tell anyone whether to pick HD-DVD or Blu-ray. But even a simple perusal over my article about what came out this year in HD animation should give you an indication of which format has the most titles available.
Something you don't hear much about is that even if you just get the HDTV and no HD source like HD cable or HD video disc, you can still get HD for free over the air with an old pair of rabbit ears! Almost all the network prime-time programming (minus most reality shows) in now in HD and available at no cost if you can pick up your local signal with an antenna.
If you do opt for an HD video format be sure to do a little research. I'm not going to tell anyone whether to pick HD-DVD or Blu-ray. But even a simple perusal over my article about what came out this year in HD animation should give you an indication of which format has the most titles available.
- AV Forum Member
- Posts: 493
- Joined: November 11th, 2007
- Location: NY
- AV Founder
- Posts: 8279
- Joined: October 16th, 2004
- Location: Orlando
- Contact:
Congress has pushed back the date several times. The new date is February 2009. That is when the 50+ year old analog signals will be shut down and replaced with digital tv signals. Note that digital does not necessarily mean HD. I'm willing to bet a lot of shows will still be 480 and 4:3 after the change - just 480p rather than 480i.
- AV Founder
- Posts: 25715
- Joined: October 22nd, 2004
- Location: London, UK
WOW!
Just got the Blade Runner set come through (well, it came yesterday morning but only just looked at it this afternoon)...wowsers!
Apart from the cool "I, Robot" head that I couldn't resist a couple of years back, this is quite possibly the best DVD presentation I've yet seen.
"It looks like a toy", my lady Jen said, to which I replied, "That's <I>exactly</I> what it is!"
The whole thing SCREAMS class (in mass-produced DVD terms), with some intricately cut foam padding holding the physical extras and the DVD case really subtle though embossed and nice 'n' heavy feeling. The case is really good quality, and though it does feel toy-like, it's an adult toy that we can all have fun with!
Very, very cool...
I'm looking forward to digging into the extras first and then seeing the new cuts. I'm actually glad I went for the standard-def because then I can just upgrade to the Blu-Ray for much cheaper and get the alternative packaging. I'll likely spring for the 5-disc BR, but if the alternate cuts don't impress me too much I may just go for the two-disc.
But, man, this is one smokin' set!
Just got the Blade Runner set come through (well, it came yesterday morning but only just looked at it this afternoon)...wowsers!
Apart from the cool "I, Robot" head that I couldn't resist a couple of years back, this is quite possibly the best DVD presentation I've yet seen.
"It looks like a toy", my lady Jen said, to which I replied, "That's <I>exactly</I> what it is!"
The whole thing SCREAMS class (in mass-produced DVD terms), with some intricately cut foam padding holding the physical extras and the DVD case really subtle though embossed and nice 'n' heavy feeling. The case is really good quality, and though it does feel toy-like, it's an adult toy that we can all have fun with!
Very, very cool...
I'm looking forward to digging into the extras first and then seeing the new cuts. I'm actually glad I went for the standard-def because then I can just upgrade to the Blu-Ray for much cheaper and get the alternative packaging. I'll likely spring for the 5-disc BR, but if the alternate cuts don't impress me too much I may just go for the two-disc.
But, man, this is one smokin' set!
- AV Founder
- Posts: 25715
- Joined: October 22nd, 2004
- Location: London, UK